The dry season
November to April: dry, sunny days and calm water on the east coast, the best months for the floating restaurants and the boats to Coconut Island.
Sapam
Area · Ko Kaeo
Ban Sapam lies between the airport road and the mangroves north of Phuket Town: Wat Sapam on its hill, Laem Hin's terrace over the sea and boats to the rafts.
Sapam in photographs
Sapam. Sapam.
- Food
- Seafood on a terrace over the sea
- Views
- Bay views from the temple hill
- Nature
- Mangroves and Coconut Island offshore
- Quiet
- A village rarely seen by tourists
- Access
- On the town–airport road
About Sapam
Sapam is a village area of Ko Kaeo subdistrict on Phuket's east coast, about 7 km north of Phuket Town, between Thepkasattri Road, the island's main road from town to the airport, and the sea. Ban Sapam is village 1 of the subdistrict and holds the council's office. The land is flat, with a hill on its inland side and mangroves along the shore, facing Ko Maphrao, Coconut Island.
It is a small fishing community, which a local blogger placed on Sapam Bay just north of Laem Hin. Wat Sapam Thammaram stands on a small hill above the bay: the main hall at the top, the monks' quarters on the slope and a dining hall lower down. Local families come every day to make merit; tourists rarely do.
On the shore, Laem Hin Seafood spreads a large wooden terrace over the water, and longtails from its jetty take diners about five minutes out to the floating restaurants. The village also gave its name to mee Sapam, Hokkien-style noodles with seafood, served since the early 1950s by a family restaurant on Thepkasattri Road at the village's edge and listed in the Michelin Guide.
What is good about Sapam
Seafood on the water
Laem Hin Seafood's wooden terrace stands over the sea, daily 10:00 to 22:00; from its jetty a longtail reaches the floating restaurants in about five minutes.
Mee Sapam
The noodles named after the village: thick yellow noodles with seafood in a light gravy, o-tao and fried oysters, daily 09:00 to 17:30 at a family restaurant in the Michelin Guide.
The temple hill
Wat Sapam's main hall sits on a small hill with views across Sapam Bay; a steep walkway climbs from the street, with a gentler path to the side.
Mangroves and Coconut Island
Mangroves line the shore, and longtails from Laem Hin's pier cross to Ko Maphrao, a flat, green island of about 3 by 2 km.
On the main road
Thepkasattri Road runs past the village: Phuket Town is 10 to 20 minutes away and the airport 25 to 35; the orange airport bus stops in Ko Kaeo.
Big shops nearby
Premium Outlet Phuket, Super Cheap and IKEA are about 2 km away on the road to town.
Things to do at Sapam
Sapam. Sapam. Sapam.
Culture
Wat Sapam
A working village temple on a hill above the bay, with a 10 m golden Buddha and painted walls inside. Free; long trousers or skirts and sleeved shirts.
Food and drink
Laem Hin Seafood
A large wooden terrace over the sea, in front of Coconut Island; daily 10:00 to 22:00, with ample parking.
Food and drink
A floating restaurant
A longtail from Laem Hin's jetty takes about five minutes to the restaurants on rafts out in the bay.
Food and drink
Mee Sapam for lunch
Hokkien noodles with seafood, o-tao, fried oysters and home-made fish balls (about 20 THB each), daily 09:00 to 17:30; no dinner.
Boat trips
Over to Coconut Island
Longtails cross from Laem Hin's pier to Ko Maphrao, a flat island of small villages and two resorts, for about 100 to 150 THB return (2026).
Shopping
Premium Outlet Phuket
Brand outlets along a covered walkway, with a big Adidas outlet and a small food court; daily 10:00 to 21:00.
Shopping
Super Cheap
Phuket's own warehouse store on Thepkasattri Road, selling almost everything from food to furniture at low prices.
Family · monsoon months
The Upside Down House
Rooms furnished on the ceiling for upside-down photos, a rainy-day favourite with children; 10:00 to 18:00, 470 THB.
A day at Sapam
The temple hill in the cooler morning, when local families come to make merit. Wat Sapam (Wat Sapam Thammaram)
Noodles, o-tao and fried oysters; it closes at 17:30.
About 2 km down the road towards town. Premium Outlet Phuket
A five-minute longtail ride from Laem Hin's jetty to a floating restaurant.
Or stay on Laem Hin's terrace, open until 22:00.
Places in Sapam
Our picks
Wat Sapam (Wat Sapam Thammaram)
Buddhist temple · SapamA quiet working temple on Phuket's east coast where local families come for daily merit-making and meditation.
Premium Outlet Phuket
Shopping mallAn outlet mall of brand stores along a covered walkway, on the bypass road north of Phuket Town.
Super Cheap
HypermarketPhuket's own giant warehouse-style discount store, on Thep Krasattri Road just outside Phuket Town.
Upside Down House Phuket
AttractionA house built upside down, with furnished rooms on the ceiling, plus a few other playful attractions, on the bypass road near Phuket Town.
Restaurants
Ban Rim Lay Pam
Local eatery · SapamA family noodle shop on a stilted deck at the end of Soi Ko Kaeo 6, on the mangrove edge north of Phuket Town; lunch only.
Bang Mud Floating Restaurant
Floating restaurant · SapamA floating seafood restaurant of large rafts with wooden huts, off Laem Hin on the east coast, reached by longtail from a pier on the shore.
Kruvit Raft
Floating restaurant · SapamA floating seafood restaurant of wooden rafts moored between Laem Hin and Ko Maphrao, reached by a short free longtail ride; the only raft in the MICHELIN Guide.
Laem Hin Seafood
Seafood restaurant · SapamA large seafood restaurant on a wooden terrace over the sea at Laem Hin, on the east coast facing Ko Maphrao (Coconut Island), popular with local families.
Pink Boat
Local eatery · SapamA small seaside kanom jeen noodle shop at Baan Laem Hin on Phuket's east coast, just before Laem Hin Seafood.
Kids
Waylany Kids Cafe
Indoor playground · SapamA children's centre with a café in Thep Krasatti: themed play zones where children can spend several hours, and a menu for children and parents.
Padel and tennis
Oceanic Tennis and Fitness Club
Tennis courts · SapamA tennis and fitness club in Ko Kaeo with courts of several surfaces.
Marinas
Laem Hin Pier
Pier · SapamA small pier on the east coast of Phuket Town, used mainly by longtail boats to the nearby islands.
- The zone
- A place, as the list numbers it
Homes and places on the map
Buddhist temple
Attraction
Local eatery
Floating restaurant
Floating restaurant
Seafood restaurant
Local eatery
Shopping mall
Hypermarket
Indoor playground
Tennis courts
Pier
Homes in Sapam
Village houses and shophouses along the lanes and Thepkasattri Road, with gated villa estates and new condo projects across Ko Kaeo around it, near the international schools. Building work on new projects is part of the scenery.
Sapam through the year
The monsoon months
May to October: the east coast is sheltered from the south-west monsoon, so the longtails keep running, but heavy showers are common and some low-lying streets hold water after a downpour.
Sapam with children
A relaxed half-day with children: a short boat ride to a floating restaurant, noodles at lunchtime and, when it rains, the Upside Down House down the road. The temple's main walkway is steep, but a gentler path climbs to the side.
- The longtail to the floating restaurants takes about five minutes.
- Wat Sapam's gentler side path suits anyone who finds the steep walkway hard.
- Mee Sapam closes at 17:30, so go for lunch.
- The Upside Down House is 470 THB, a rainy-day standby.
Getting to Sapam and parking
- From the airport, by car
- 25–35 min
- From Patong, with the traffic
- 30–40 min
- From Phuket Town
- 10–20 min
Sapam is on Thepkasattri Road, the main road between Phuket Town and the airport, about 7 km north of town. A car or scooter is the norm; the orange airport bus stops in Ko Kaeo, and longtails leave Laem Hin's pier for the bay.
- By car. Phuket Town is 10 to 20 minutes away and the airport 25 to 35; Laem Hin Seafood and Mee Sapam have their own parking.
- The local bus. The orange airport bus stops in Ko Kaeo between the airport and Phuket Town, about hourly; fares run from 30 to 100 THB by distance, cash only (2026).
- Grab and taxis. Ride apps work here; from Patong the trip is about 21 km, 35 minutes.
- By scooter. Practical for short trips, but Thepkasattri Road carries heavy, fast traffic.
- By boat. Longtails leave Laem Hin's pier for the floating restaurants and for Ko Maphrao.
Parking. Laem Hin Seafood has ample parking, and Mee Sapam parks in front; Wat Sapam has space by the street.
Who will love Sapam, and who will not
Will love it
- Food trips: seafood over the water, or the noodles named after the village.
- Couples: dinner on a raft or a terrace over the bay.
- Anyone after a quiet temple and a working village, away from the resorts.
Will not
- Swimmers: the shore is mangroves and jetties; the west-coast beaches are 30 to 40 minutes away.
- Night owls: evenings end with dinner.
Tips for Sapam
Lunch, not dinner, at Mee Sapam
It opens daily 09:00 to 17:30; for dinner, go to Laem Hin.
Dress for the temple
Long trousers or a skirt and a sleeved shirt; entry is free.
Take the side path
Wat Sapam's main walkway is steep; a gentler path climbs to the side.
Cash for the bus
The orange airport bus takes cash only, 30 to 100 THB by distance.
Agree the boat to Coconut Island
Longtails from Laem Hin cost about 100 to 150 THB return (2026); agree the time to come back.
Watch the road
Thepkasattri Road is fast and busy; turn into the village lanes with care, above all by scooter.
Questions about Sapam
Where is Sapam in Phuket?
On the east coast, in Ko Kaeo subdistrict, about 7 km north of Phuket Town: between Thepkasattri Road, the road from town to the airport, and the mangrove shore facing Coconut Island.
What is mee Sapam?
Hokkien-style thick yellow noodles with seafood and greens in a light gravy, named after the village. A family restaurant on Thepkasattri Road has served them since the early 1950s, daily 09:00 to 17:30, and is listed in the Michelin Guide.
How do I get to the floating restaurants?
From Laem Hin Seafood's jetty, at the end of a lane off Thepkasattri Road: a longtail takes about five minutes to the rafts in the bay.
Is Wat Sapam open to visitors?
Yes, free. It is a working village temple on a small hill above the bay; wear long trousers or a skirt and a sleeved shirt, and take the gentler side path if the steps are too steep.
Can you swim at Sapam?
No. The shore is lined with mangroves and fishing jetties; the swimming beaches are on the west coast, 30 to 40 minutes away by car.
How far is Sapam from the airport?
About 25 to 35 minutes by car along Thepkasattri Road; Phuket Town is 10 to 20 minutes the other way.